TECHNIQUE
Today we are going to learn how to move in a zigzag pathway.
IMPORTANCE
Moving in zigzag pathway is important because it helps you practice agility and quickness.
VOCABULARY
Zigzag: a line or course having sharp right and left turns that alternate.
When moving in a zigzag pathway, it is important to:
1. Slow down when approaching a turning point.
2. Keep your body low.
3. Plant your outside foot and push off in the opposite direction.
PRACTICE
- Before we begin, I will set up five cones spread out in a zigzag pattern. Line up at the marker cone. When I say, “GO!” run in a zigzag pattern, moving from cone to cone. Run around the outside of the cone before moving to another cone.
LIGHTNING THIEVES
TIME
10-25 minutes
NUMBER OF STUDENTS
4-25 students per game
EQUIPMENT
1 short cone per student
5 hula-hoops
10 tall cones
Optional: 24 fuzzy balls
STORYLINE
Today we are playing Lightening Thieves. In this game, the mighty Greek god, Zeus, has hidden his collection of magical lightning bolts high on Mount Olympus. Your goal is to go from one station to the next, moving in a zigzag pathway (like a lightning bolt), to grab a magical lightning bolt (short cone) and run it back to your team’s hula-hoop as fast as you can.
INSTRUCTIONS
- Before the game begins, everyone must form a single file line behind the tall cone.
- When I say, “GO!” the first person in line will run in a zigzag pathway from hoop to hoop (both feet need to go inside the hoop).
- When you get to the last hoop, pick up a lightening bolt from the pile and run back along the outside of the track and drop it off in the hula-hoop. Then, go to the back of the line.
- When the first runner gets to the first hula-hoop, I will say, “GO!” and the next person in line can begin.
- We will begin a new game when all the cones are in the hula-hoop.
Game 1: Play as indicated above.
Variation: Teacher is Zeus and has found out about the lightning thieves and will lob fireballs (fuzzy balls) at the mountainside to try and stop them. Runners must run the course and avoid being hit.
Variation: When a student gets to a hula-hoop have them complete a challenge (i.e. do one sit up in the hoop, do one push up in the hoop, do one jumping jack, do three high knees, etc.). Make each round a different challenge.
Exit Ticket: Students run in a zigzag pathway to line up to go back to class.
TEACHING TIPS
- Approach:
- Start by demonstrating how to run through the course.
- Safety:
- Students need to be mindful of keeping a safe distance from other students to avoid collisions.
- ELL Accommodation:
- Post labeled pictures of skills and game play.
- Partner with proficient English speakers for directions/modeling and reflections.
- SpEd Accommodation:
- Set individual goals for physical or behavioral modifications.
- Allow students to demonstrate skill one-on-one with teacher.
- Allow students extra time to master the skill.
- Reflection:
- One important thing to do while moving in a zigzag pathway is...
- What could you do to get better at running in a zigzag pathway?
RUNNING TOWERS
TIME
10-20 minutes
NUMBER OF STUDENTS
5-25 students per game
EQUIPMENT
1 tall cone per student
2 short cones (blue, green)
1 short cone per student
5 hula-hoops
STORYLINE
Today we are playing Running Towers. In this game, a construction company has built a large tower in the wrong location! Your goal is to move in a zigzag pathway to rebuild the tower, one piece at a time, in the correct location.
INSTRUCTIONS
- I will divide the class into two teams.
- Before the game begins, everyone must form a single file line behind their team’s short cone.
- When I say, “GO!” the first person in line will run in a zigzag pattern from hula-hoop to hula-hoop (both feet need to go inside the hoop).
- When you reach the tower, grab one short cone and one tall cone and make your way to the new construction site (end of the course). Then, rebuild the tower by placing the short cone on top of the tall cone.
- When the first runner gets to the first hula-hoop, the next person in line can begin.
- We will begin a new game when all the towers have been successfully moved.
Game 1: Play as indicated above with two teams. Each student makes their own tower.
Game 2: Play as indicated above. Each team makes one big tower. See how high they can build it before it falls over.
Variation: Combine teams to see how tall they can make one big tower without it falling over.
Exit Ticket: Students run in a zigzag pathway to line up to go back to class.
TEACHING TIPS
- Approach:
- Start by demonstrating how to run through the course.
- Safety:
- Students need to be mindful of keeping a safe distance from other students to avoid collisions.
- ELL Accommodation:
- Post labeled pictures of skills and game play.
- Partner with proficient English speakers for directions/modeling and reflections.
- SpEd Accommodation:
- Set individual goals for physical or behavioral modifications.
- Allow students to demonstrate skill one-on-one with teacher.
- Allow students extra time to master the skill.
- Reflection:
- One important thing to do while moving in a zigzag pathway is...
- What could you do to get better at running in a zigzag pathway?
TELEPORT
TIME
15-25 minutes
NUMBER OF STUDENTS
6-25 students per game
EQUIPMENT
6 hula-hoops
1 short cone
STORYLINE
Today we are playing Teleport. In this game, your goal is to move in a zigzag pathway to get from galaxy to galaxy by traveling in the teleport station (hula-hoops).
INSTRUCTIONS
- Before the game begins, I will select one person to be the astronaut.
- When I say, “GO!” the astronaut will run in a zigzag pattern to each teleport station.
- Everyone else will be aliens in charge of teleporting the astronaut to the next galaxy.
- Aliens will hold their teleports as high as they can. Once an astronaut gets their station, the aliens will lower the teleport to the ground and the astronaut will be released.
- We will begin a new game when the astronaut makes it through all the teleports.
- At the beginning of each game, I will select a new astronaut.
Game 1: Have astronauts jog to each teleport.
Game 2: Have astronauts run to each the tunnel.
Game 3: Have two astronauts go at a time through the teleports.
Exit Ticket: Students run in a zigzag pathway to line up to go back to class.
TEACHING TIPS
- Safety:
- Make sure that students know how to properly hold and lower the hula-hoops.
- ELL Accommodation:
- Post labeled pictures of skills and game play.
- Partner with proficient English speakers for directions/modeling and reflections.
- SpEd Accommodation:
- Set individual goals for physical or behavioral modifications.
- Allow students to demonstrate skill one-on-one with teacher.
- Allow students extra time to master the skill.
- Reflection:
- One important thing to do while moving in a zigzag pathway is...
- What could you do to get better at running in a zigzag pathway?